Contest to determine new name for Rockford RiverHawks baseball team

Online Staff Report

LOVES PARK, Ill. — Rockford’s professional baseball club is looking for community input to help select a new name for its team.

Not only will northern Illinois’ professional baseball club be playing at the stadium, located in Loves Park, for many years to come, they will also have a new name as well.

Here’s your chance to name a professional baseball team and to throw out the first pitch on the Frontier League’s opening night.

Since the stadium now has new ownership, Rock River Valley Baseball feels a name change would help the franchise usher in a new era in the greater Rockford region.

“I cannot stress enough that the professional baseball team will be here for many years to come, and we will continue to be involved and visible in the greater Rockford community,” said Rock River Valley Baseball President Bryan Wickline. “We want to thank all of our fans and the business community for their support the last two years, and we look forward to continuing to bring affordable, family entertainment and excitement to everyone.”

All suggestions must be submitted online at www.rockfordriverhawks.com/nameteam. All entries must include suggested team name as well as your name, address, phone number and e-mail address.

Randomly-selected fans will have a chance to win more than 50 prizes, including the following:

• Fifty winners will receive a pair of tickets to the 2013 home-opener;

• Four winners will receive a group outing on a night of their choice (25 guests maximum) with an all-you-can-eat buffet included; and

• One grand-prize winner will receive two lifetime infield box season tickets, an authentic personalized game jersey, authentic game hat and will throw out the first pitch for the 2013 home-opener Friday, May 17.

“We are eager to see the community suggestions for the team name,” Wickline said. “It’s a clean slate and every name suggestion will be considered. Be creative!”

All entries must be submitted by midnight, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. The winning entry and new team name will be announced Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013.

Log on to www.rockfordriverhawks.com or call the baseball offices at (815) 885-2255 for more information.

Short list of rules:

• All entries must be submitted via the team’s website, www.rockfordriverhawks.com, or by mail to 4503 Interstate Blvd., Loves Park, IL 61111.

• All entries must include suggested team name as well as your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address.

• If the winning name is submitted by more than one person, the earliest submission will be selected as the grand-prize winner.

• All other winners will be randomly selected in a separate drawing held at the professional baseball offices.

• A list of winners will be posted at noon, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013, at www.rockfordriverhawks.com and will be available for viewing at the RiverHawks’ office Monday, Jan. 28, 2013.

Rockford Professional Baseball is a member of the Frontier League of Professional Baseball, the longest-operating independent professional baseball league in the country. Advertising and season ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com, “Like” on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RockfordRiverHawks and follow on Twitter @RockRiverHawks.

Posted Jan. 3, 2013